Fast5 disaster

 Malawi Queens’ chances of repeating their historic bronze finish at the Fast5 World Netball Series went up in smoke yesterday after losing all their three matches on the competition’s first day in Christchurch, New Zealand.

They finished the day as the only side yet to register a win in the six-team event after going down 42-13 to hosts New Zealand in the opener, 41-37 to Jamaica and 41-30 to England.

They are scheduled to face Australia and South Africa in their final round-robin matches today.

If they win both games, they stand a chance to play in the third/fourth place play-offs, but any defeat will confine them to a fifth/sixth place fixture later in the day.

Malawi had their best finish at the competition in 2016 when they took bronze.

Queens stand-in coach Samuel Kanyenda has played down the defeats, saying the games are helping the team’s new talents build confidence on the international stage.

At least half of the players in the 10-member squad are having their first feel of the Fast5 Series.

The squad has UK-based shooter Joyce Mvula-Nyirenda and defender Towera Vinkhumbo-Nyirenda and local-based experienced players Thandie Galeta, Sheilla Dimba and Loreen Ngwira.

Other players, namely Martha Dambo, Shabel Bengo, Cynthia Khunga, Amina Msusa and Mary Nyirenda are at the competition for the first time.

“Half of the team is playing the Fast5 games for the first time.

“However, I am happy because they have adapted well and are improving their performance with each passing game,” Kanyenda said.

“Of course, we struggled a lot in the first game but we managed to pull up our socks in the next fixtures.

“We hope to do well in our next games on Sunday.”

The Queens missed the Fast5 last edition after failing to reach the top-six bracket on the world netball rankings, a requirement for qualification.

They have participated in eight of the series’ 10 editions